To print or not to print!

[Former_Member]

Hey gang! I have a question for the artists who sell prints. Currently all my products are hand painted on wood objects (plaques, frames, boxes, etc). Since each one is hand painted and original, I have to price them accordingly. I have been thinking of doing original art on paper and canvas and perhaps start doing prints. I have noticed that people who sell prints seem to generate more sales. Anyone who has experience with this, can you fill me in with the pros and cons of prints. How to go about it, printing process and does it generate more sales. It seems like a no brainier because you can reprint at a minimal cost and sell prints at a lower cost than the original. Any info would be GREAT! Thanks.
Yours in Whimsy-Rusti

[WishsongCreations]

Hi Rusti!

I sell prints of my work, they are my best sellers! A lot of people on Etsy can't afford originals so its nice to have cheaper options out there that are just as good as the original anyway. When I set up my shop Wishong Design (the one I sell all my prints from) I bought myself a complete setup- scanner computer and printer, it was a very expensive outlay- $7500. But after I had researched for ages on Etsy to see what other artists sold, I knew I needed to have a very good quality printer with archival inks and paper. Most people state what type of paper and printer they use and its archival properties. No "home" printer is going to give you this so you need to outlay quite a bit of money for a decent printer. I use the Canon IPF 5100 (~$2500), it has a 12 ink printing system so its amazing! Quality is so good, and I only used Hahnemuehle fine art papers, they are the best so far!

Alternatively you can get your stuff printed from a local printers, but I found they were really expensive here in Oz, I just couldn't then compete with the pricing here on Etsy by doing it that way. Quite often you also need to print minimum numbers at the printer, having your own setup means you can just print as you need to. Your scanner needs to be really good quality as well, without it your prints are never going to be good. I use the Epson V700 (~$800) and it works very well! The only downside is that its only A4, so I am restricted to painting to a max size of A4. Anything bigger and I will have to get it professional scanned or photographed at a professional printer. You will also need a calibrator for your screen to make sure the colours you see on your screen match the colours when printed. I use the colormunki.

I have read a few forums about originals vs prints, its such a mixed response, some like prints because its more affordable, others are strictly against prints and some won't even buy the originals of some shops if they are selling prints as well! But I say do it, then you are catering for a larger audience.

Hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

I think you'll find a lot of folks who sell prints of their work (and can't afford a home setup, or are just getting started) order online. Many people recommended iprintfromhome.com on an Etsy board and I am very happy with their quality. There is no minimum to buy multiples. The photographic papers they use for the less expensive prints are able to replicate really beautiful colors, and I've only had color problems once or twice.

They also do Giclee prints, which are the very fancy art paper kind, and they are quite a bit pricier but the quality is excellent and I have started to have some done so that I can offer a variety in my shop. A local printer might give you a bit more flexibility but iprintfromhome is so darn convenient.

For cards and postcards (more variety, hooray!) I use moo.com. Their prices are a bit high but the quality is outstanding. I tried vistaprint but the quality was not as good.

[Former_Member]

Though I am just starting out... I say go for it! You should definitely sell art prints. People (including myself) like art prints because they are more affordable.

Basically, what one needs is a great scanner, basic Photoshop, and printer. One could probably end up spending around $800-$1000, but you could wait until you find one on sale or rebate, and get the items little by little. I believe that it'll pay off in the end. If you can't afford it now, look for a great print shop around you... Getting it locally printed would also be a great way to test the waters and see if selling art prints will be a successful way for you to go.

I agree with Cindy D., moo.com makes super great quality prints.

I wish you the best of luck with everything!

P.S. I really like your Hawaiian themed signs!

[Former_Member]

HappyWhoos- Thank you for the compliment regarding my Hawaiian themed signs! I have spent some time looking through your shop and I am absolutely in LOVE with your owls. Owls are my youngest son's favorite animal so I am always looking at owls for him! I am about to do some owl themed stuff for him, so we will see how they turn out.

I want to HappyWhoos, Jodie and Cindy for all the great info. It sounds like Jodie has quite the set up. Color my jelly! From what everyone is saying, it sounds like I would need to invest in a fairly decent scanner. As for the printing, there are a few ways to go about that. I will look into the places and items that you all suggested!

What about the old school way of using a high end camera and taking a photo in a properly lit setting? I do this for my custom t-shirts. I take a picture of my art and touch it up through Photoshop then upload the image to Colorado Timberline. Granted t-shirts are not as high art as a print, but has any tried this method for prints?

[Former_Member]

Rusti, I think getting prints made is a great idea. There are only so many hours in the day and to have to 'recreate' something every time someone places an order might be a real challenge to do every time. At least for myself, anyway!

As a digital artist, I have no "originals" so to speak, but that's the only downside. I'm new to Etsy, but I'm thinking people will be more likely to buy a less expensive print than a higher priced original. In the end, I can only imagine that will be better for business. Just my two cents!

[Former_Member]

Rusti - Thank you so much! I can't wait to see how your owls turn out! :)

About taking photographs of your art... I tried that in the beginning, but I didn't like the quality of the image when I tried to make the prints.

[Former_Member]

Rusti, the scanner I got was only about $70. Not super cheap but very serviceable. The only problem is that the max scan area is 8.5" x 11". So all my work is under those dimensions. This is good because I use markers and really anything bigger would bleed them dry too quickly. On the other hand I would like to start doing some bigger stuff and I won't be able to scan those.

It's when you go to a larger scan area that the price really jumps. But I have to agree that photographs unless taken by a professional in a very particular setting are unlikely to give you the quality you want.

However! When I first started (no scanner), I would take my drawings to Kinkos and they will scan them in. You have to specify the resolution you want (300dpi is pretty standard), and then you'll be set. You can manipulate them in paint.NET or another free program if needed. Or even add color to black and white in that way, which is how I did my first prints, like this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78004544/mom-and-baby-beast-on-green-8x10-print

[Former_Member]

this is my second ETSY shop. I set this one up to ONLY sell prints of my collages.

I say go for it, and I say try iprintfromhome.com. I love their metallic prints. They are really pretty and only $2.40 for an 8x10.

[Former_Member]

Hi! I'm new to this team. I hope my paintings are what you would consider whimsical... I've been thinking of doing prints, too! I'm thinking about buying an Epson r3000 printer and an Epson (v?)500 scanner. I've been trying to get input from different sources on whether this (making prints) is a good idea or not, and, if so, are the printer and scanner I mentioned good ones? I blogged a little bit about it ( http://gaudeteintheeveryday.blogspot.com/ ).

Cindi, I think the scanner I'm looking at is a max bed of A4 (approx letter size?), so I have a few that I would take in to be scanned. We don't have a Kinkos, but there is a Staples about 35 minutes drive from here. Have you ever had any experience with them?

[Former_Member]

I do all my art (and photos) digitally on my computer. I can't afford adobe or photoshop, but I use paint.net which was free online. It takes me a LONG time to make a piece of art.....the photos, most of the time is spent making sure I get a good photo on my Kodak share it digital camera (a gift).....after I finish my artwork or getting my photo all set, I put it on a disc and I always have it printed by a photo lab. Even for the least expensive photos they use archival ink and paper.

Here, in RI, I tried Kinko's and a couple of other printers and the color and clarity were horrid. The photo lab has Kodak and Fuji printers....I wish I could say the Kodak was better, but actually, the Fuji is MUCH better both in color and quality of print. Also, it costs less to have it done at the photo lab than it did at Kinko's and the other printers.....but that was NOT why I made my decision. I was looking for prints that looked JUST like the art I worked so hard to make or the picture I worked hard to get....and expect anyone who buys it to SEE the quality of the effort that went into it. I would LOVE to upgrade to photoshop someday though.